alibo, Aklan- This early, the Representative of the Lone District of Aklan are lobbying to Aklanons living all over the world to support for the proposed Absentee Voting Bill now pending in the House of Congress.

The said bill which is now on its second reading were primarily authored by Congressmen Augusto Syjuco of Iloilo, Jose De Venecia of Pangasinan, Harlin Abayon of Samar and Congresswoman Bellaflor Angara Castillo of Aurora.

In a statement, Aklan Rep. Billie V. Calizo went on trip to abroad last November 1-10, 2001 to sought the support of Aklanon communities, most of which are migrants and OFW's, for the enactment of the proposed bill.

Said bill allows any Filipinos abroad who has not renounced the Filipino Citizenship and not otherwise

disqualified by law, shall have the right to register and vote in all national elections. Also, the bill aims to give Filipino migrants and OFW's a chance to exercise their right to vote even if they are in foreign land.

This allows the Filipino citizens abroad to be updated on the current political trends in the Philippines and felt a sense of responsibility by taking part in such political exercise.

With this endeavor, Calizo attended various Aklanon Association functions, meetings and social events to discuss the salient points of the proposed bill and renew ties with her fellow Aklanons from all over the United States.

She also graced several Social Gatherings of Aklanon Associations such as Ibajaynons in USA, Aklanons in USA Inc., Aklanons of America in LA and Balete International Inc., where she was able to seek medical and social aids for indigent Aklanon patients especially those children in rural areas.

Calizo said, it was these rural children who most need medical and social attention in the province. She also hopes to receive the pledges of Aklanon Associations early next year.

Romanian Gov't visited Boracay

oracay Island- The Romanian ParliamentaryGover-nment through its Senate President Nicolae Vacaroiu along several senators and businessmen who arrived here last November reportedly to invest a business in this island.

Prior to their arrival, the Romanian Senators arrived in Manila the and visited the Philippine Senate for a meeting, after which they went g to Kalibo, Aklan for another luncheon meeting with the Aklan provincial government and proceeded to this Island for their sojourn.

Before they arrived in Boracay, the Aklan ProvincialGovernment has discussed with them possible investments ventures in this Island and after which delegates were toured around the Pina Weaving Industrial Sites in Aklan.

Aklan Governor Florencio Miraflores said, the provincial government wanted to prioritize the pina weaving industry as potential investment for the Romanians since the industry has already achieved national recognition

It was learned, that the reason why Pina Weaving Industry could not move ahead in the province because the industry here lacks equipment to produce more fabrics and other logistics, financial capital and the proper trainings needed for the weavers.

After the meeting with the provincial government, the delegation has also met with the Malay Municipal Government in Boracay on Thursday evening to also discuss the possibility of investing in this resort.

Sin urged devotees to face their fears

alibo, Aklan- Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin recently urged thousands of Catholic devotees here to not be afraid and should face their fears in this times of uncertainties.

Sin, a native of New Washington, Aklan was here along with Archbishop Antonio Franco, D.D. Papal Nuncio in order to commemorate the 25th year anniversary of the Diocese of Kalibo last October 8, 2001.

Sin told the Catholic devotees here that like the apostles in Jesus time every devotee should face each own share of persecutions, hardship and trials.

During Jesus time here on earth, the apostles were not only persecuted but also killed by the Jewish people because of their persistent faith to God the Father.

In other parts of the world nowadays, a conflict is brewing between the Christian and Moslem communities triggered up by the American attack against Afghanistan.

The attack known as "Attack against Terrorism" was the result of thousands of casualties killed in New York Trade Center and the Pentagon last May 11.

In the country, several Moslem communities are reflecting in calling a jihad or holy war against American and its allied forces.

The government, which has both populations of Christian and Moslem communities, has declared full support to the American in its endeavor to fight international terrorism.

Sin, added in his call to people to be vigilant in their faith to God giving emphasis on 'the greatest mandate of God to his people.'

"Jesus said, I am with you until the end of time and this is the greatest mandate with us until the present," Sin said in his homily during the mass celebrated at the St. John the Baptist here.

Among the highlight of the celebration were the ati-atihan revelry to which indigenous people such as Aeta's coming from Boracay Island also took part in the parade.

The various organizations, the parishes and education sectors in honor of the Sto also joined the revelry. Nino. The entire Aklanons has been known to place their full devotion to the patron saint Child Jesus.

Franco meanwhile, also urged devotees to continue their respective works despite the uncertainties of times, saying that if it is God's work he will always provides.

Pope Paul VI approved the creation of Kalibo Diocesse by a decree in January 17, 1976 and at present has already established 22 parishes.

“Paradise Beauties” Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo posed a picture with Miss Asia-Pacific Candidates in Boracay Island. (photos by Joe Haresh Tanodra)

Kalibo Ati-atihan “Father" dies at 90

alibo, Aklan- The known Father of the Kalibo Sto. Nino Ati-atihan Festival the other day died at the age of 90.

Because of this, Aklan Governor Florencio T. Miraflores ordered the schools, government agencies and other departments for a half-mast flag rising in memory and tribute to former Mayor Federico Icamina (1960-1980).

It was gathered, Icamina, which served this capital ati-atihan town for almost 20 years, pioneered the introduction of the unique ati-atihan festival in the whole word in 1970's.

Because of his endeavors, the ati-atihan festival was imitated by various provinces in the country continously attracting thousands of foreign tourists every year. Icamina were dubbed as the longest servicemen and most respected politicians during his term.

The Kalibo Ati-atihan known for its aboriginal streetdancing held every second week of January was duplicated by Cebu with its own version Sinulog, Iloilo's Dinagyang and the Bacolod Masskara Festival.

In Aklan alone, five out of the 17 towns in this province including Boracay Island also celebrates their own version of the said festival.

It was learned, that Icamina has been strict in implementing the celebration held in honor of Sto. Nino as he maintained the solemnity and pure ethnic ati-atihan groups.

After he retires being a mayor of Kalibo, his successors introduced modern groups in the festival, which were soon criticized for commercialization of the festival.

Aside for pioneering the ati-atihan festival, Icamina also organized the Explorer Drum and Buggle Corpse which has won various national awards in Drum and Buggle Competitiones in 1970's.

Because of this, Icamina also conceptualized the present rhytmic beating of the drums heard every ati-atihan festival held in various parts of the country.

For his part, first termer Kalibo Mayor Reymar Rebaldo incidentally a relative of Icamina vowed to continue his uncle's legacy by making the forthcoming 2002 Kalibo Sto. Nino Ati-atihan Festival the still most interesting festival in the country today.

BOTTLED MISFORTUNE

By Bryan Mari J. Argos

oxas City- A 500-ml bottle of the popular beverage Coca-Cola, purchased last October of this year by complainants who wish to remain anonymous until further developments, turned out to contain a scum-like material floating on the surface of the drink.

The bottle was not opened by the complainants to keep the seal un-tampered and was brought to the Coca-Cola Roxas City Depot in Brgy. Lonoy, Roxas City. The said bottle was presented to Mr. Johann Lopez, a supervisor of the said plant.

Lopez expressed his gratitude to the complainants for not taking the bottle to the Media on impulse and offered to replace the bottle with an un-opened bottle of the same beverage. The complainants refused to accept the offer on the grounds that more damage could have been done had they drank the bottle without inspecting the contents first.

The complainants further said that their effort of keeping the issue at bay deserved more from the Coca-Cola Company than just a replacement of the object in question because the same bottle could land the entire company with the Bureau of Food and Drug (BFAD) had they taken the bottle directly to the said agency. _

“Ano kaya ang magyayari pag-ka nag-complain kami sa Coke kung nabuksan na namin ang bote at may nangyari na sa mga uminom? May habol pa kaya kami nun? (What else could happen if we had already opened the bottle and something had already happened to the ones who drank it? Will we still have any protection on our part?)said one of the complainants.

She also said that Coca-Cola, through Lopez, offered a November 7,2001 deadline for their response to the complaint. However, since Bagyo Nanang ravaged the region on the said date, the complainants decided to forego the deadline.

The complainants claimed that they did not hear from Coke since the said date.

According to representatives from Coca-Cola, they did contact the complainant on the said date but the contact number given was out of coverage area.

On the other hand the complainant said that they did not put too much weight on the November 7 deadline and even _gave consideration_ knowing that lines were down on the said date because of the typhoon.

It was not until November 19,2001 that Lopez, being the representative assigned to the complaint texted back to this message from the complainant:

Since you are not interested (in the complaint) we will just give it to someone who is, at least we did inform you about it.

Lopez replied to the said message by re-iterating that the contact number was out of coverage area and that he would be _home (Roxas City) later_ (the afternoon of November 19).

Since that text message nothing more ensued from the Coca-Cola end of the issue.

This reporter contacted the Roxas City Depot of the said company after being endorsed the bottle with the foreign matter inside on November 21,2001 to inform them of the press release.

A certain personality, identifying himself as Bobot Cabrera, Officer in Charge, said that they thought the issue had been taken care of already.

The complainants said that in the unlikely event that Coca-Cola does not do anything about the complaint they would be forced to file a formal complaint with the BFAD claiming that they had already been very lenient with the beverage company prior to this.

CAPIZ ON-LINE

By Bryan Mari J. Argos

oxas City- In implementation of Resolution No. 128 S. 2001, detailing the construction of an official Capiz Website, Capiz Governor Vicente Bermejo entered into a memorandum of agreement, with the authority granted him by the above legislation, with Roxas On-Line for the realization of the said plan.

The result of the above legislation is a website called, _Capiz, Simply

Bewitching_. The website contains information on the province_s administration, tourist spots, profiles, contact information, geography, economy, and links to other pertinent sites.

The site, which is already operational and can be accessed from any computer with the address www.capiz.info, was designed by Marcial Dumol and the other particulars of Roxas On-line.

Governor Vicente Bermejo is proud of the project saying that the reason that the province has not mounted the bandwagon of progress yet is its trailing grasp on Information Technology (IT)

He said that the website would help the province by making it accessible to all the companies on the worldwide web and to private individuals who wish to learn more about the province, its culture and its people.

Bermejo further said that it is about time that Capiz updated its information campaigns to encourage investments and boost the tourism industry in the province. Bermejo encourages everybody in the region to log on to the site for an interesting and electrifying look at the fabled province of Capiz.

By Jun Ariolo N. Aguirre

By Bryan Mari J. Argos